(Inter)National

The success of Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB), the largest youth poetry festival in the world, has led to partner poetry festivals in cities across the United States and Canada, all started by local organizations and individuals who have been inspired by YCA’s pedagogy and practice.

YCA has become a global incubator for youth spoken word and literary arts programming and, through our annual National Symposium, a meeting point where organizations can share best practices and models for youth engagement.

Global Success

LTAB National Symposium

YCA’s annual National Symposium takes place during LTAB Chicago, providing national partners with professional development workshops
and a front-row view of how we produce our festival. The Symposium connects educators and organizers interested in developing educational
practices based in the poetry of witness, hip-hop pedagogy, and cultural literacy. The three-day summit culminates in attendance
at LTAB Team Finals, and is open to current LTAB member sites, prospective member sites, and individuals interested in learning
more about the LTAB model.

The 2019 Louder Than a Bomb National Symposium runs February 14-17, 2019, in Chicago.

Over the course of three-and-a-half days, National Organizers will engage in workshops and critical conversations centered around starting
or expanding a local LTAB site. Organizers will co-imagine what year-round arts education programming leading up to LTAB could
look like. The symposium is facilitated by Young Chicago Authors Staff and Teaching Artists as well as special presentations from
regional LTAB partners. The link to register is below.

Click Here to register for the 2019 Louder Than A Bomb National Symposium